Bookmark beacon system and method

ABSTRACT

A bookmark beacon system comprises a computer network, a wireless network configured to enable a wireless device to access the computer network, and a bookmark beacon that transmits a bookmark data packet to the wireless device. The bookmark data packet includes a resource address that enables the wireless device to retrieve information stored on the computer network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from and is related to thefollowing prior application: Bookmark Beacon Method and System, U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/232,037 filed Sep. 12, 2000. This priorapplication, including the entire written description and drawingfigures, is hereby incorporated into the present application byreference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to an information beacon. Moreparticularly, the invention provides a system and method for a bookmarkbeacon that enables communication with any device having access to acomputer network, such as the Internet. The invention is particularlywell-suited for communicating with Personal Digital Assistants, mobilecommunication devices, cellular telephones, and wireless two-way e-mailcommunication devices (collectively referred to hereinafter as “wirelessdevices”).

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Communication between a wireless device and traditionallynon-wireless equipment, such as printers, facsimile machines, ATMs,etc., currently requires the equipment to be specially manufactured withwireless capabilities, such as a Bluetooth® interface. Bluetooth® is ade facto standard, as well as a specification for small-form factor,low-cost, short-range radio links between wireless devices. Themanufacture of wireless-enabled equipment, however, involves increasedcost, additional power consumption, and relatively complex hardware.

SUMMARY

[0006] A bookmark beacon system comprises a computer network, a wirelessnetwork configured to enable a wireless device to access the computernetwork, and a bookmark beacon that transmits a bookmark data packet tothe wireless device. The bookmark data packet includes a resourceaddress that enables the wireless device to retrieve information storedon the computer network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary bookmark beacon systemaccording to one embodiment of the claimed invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one exemplary embodiment of thebookmark beacon;

[0009]FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary embodimentof the bookmark beacon system in which the bookmark beacon is associatedwith a physical location such as a commercial establishment;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary method forretrieving information on a wireless device relating to a guest devicehaving a bookmark beacon;

[0011]FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronicmessaging system for wireless devices that utilizes a bookmark beaconassociated with a network-enabled printer; and

[0012]FIG. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronicbanking system that utilizes a bookmark beacon associated with apoint-of-sale (POS) device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of anexemplary bookmark beacon system 10. The system 10 includes a bookmarkbeacon 12, a wireless device 14, and a wireless communications network16 through which the wireless device 14 can access the Internet 18 via aproxy server 20. In addition, the bookmark beacon 12 may be physicallycoupled with, or in close proximity to, a guest device 22.

[0014] Operationally, the bookmark beacon 12 transmits a bookmark datapacket 24 to the wireless device 14, including information that is usedby the wireless device 14 to access a network server 26 having a website28 associated with the guest device 22. Through an Internet connection,the wireless device 14 may, for example, communicate with the guestdevice 22, retrieve information relating to the guest device 22, orinteract with applications associated with the guest device 22.Alternatively, if the guest device 22 has a network connection, thebookmark data packet 24 may provide the wireless device 14 with theinformation necessary to directly access the guest device 22 (such as anIP address for the guest device 22). It should be understood, however,that the bookmark beacon system 10 is not limited to use with theInternet 18, but may be implemented using any computer network, such asa corporate Intranet or a large network operator.

[0015] The guest device 22 may be any type of device or structure, suchas a store front, a printer, a facsimile machine, an ATM, or a cashregister. Various embodiments of the bookmark beacon system 10 utilizingdifferent types of guest devices are described in detail herein.Alternatively, the bookmark beacon system 10 may be implemented withouta guest device 22. For instance, a bookmark beacon 12 could be usedindependently to communicate information, such as an advertisement, to anearby wireless device 14.

[0016] The bookmark data packet 24 transmitted by the bookmark beacon 12preferably includes a resource address, such as an IP address or aUniform Resource Locator (URL), that enables the wireless device 14 tolocate a network server 26 and website 28 over the Internet 18.Alternatively, the resource address may enable a network connectiondirectly to the guest device 22. The data packet 24 may also include alimited amount of text describing the purpose of the bookmark beacon 12.The descriptive text preferably enables a wireless device user todetermine if he or she is interested in further interaction with thesystem 10. In addition, the data packet 24 may further include datarelating to the wireless device user's interaction with the guest device22. For example, the data packet 24 might identify a cash register andthe price of merchandise purchased by the wireless device user. In anycase, the data packet 24 is preferably a short data stream that does notimpose a heavy transmission demand on the bookmark beacon 12.

[0017] Upon receiving the bookmark data packet 24, the mobile deviceuser is preferably given the option to then access the server 26 andwebsite 28 or the guest device 22 identified by the resource address.Communication with the Internet is preferably achieved through anexisting wireless network 16 and proxy server 20. Communications acrossthe wireless network 16 and proxy server 20 involve operations that arecommonly understood by those skilled in the art of wirelesscommunications. Communication across the wireless network connection 16may be facilitated on the wireless device 14 using any known softwarethat is capable of interfacing the wireless device 14 with the proxyserver 20. The proxy server 20 is then used as a gateway that allows thewireless device 22 to indirectly communicate with the website 28 orguest device 22 over the network connection. The proxy server 20preferably communicates with the target website 28 through a HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) fetch and cache component. The target website28 relating to the guest device 22 may operate on a range of computers,computer systems, or networks. For example, information or softwareapplications relating to the guest device 22 could be stored in localdatabases, on an Intranet, or on the Internet 18. The fetch and cachecomponent of the proxy server 20 stores the web pages that are returnedfrom the website 28 in response to commands by the wireless device user.A wireless transport layer at the proxy server 20 then transmits theinformation through the wireless network connection 16 to the mobiledevice 14.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram 30 showing one exemplary embodiment ofthe bookmark beacon 12. The exemplary bookmark beacon 12 comprises ashort-range serial infrared data communicator 32, a microprocessor 34,and a power source 36. The bookmark beacon 12 is preferably awireless-enabled tag that uses the short-range serial infrared datacommunicator 32 to transmit the bookmark data packets 24. The datacommunicator 32 is preferable an IrDA (Infrared Data Association) portcoupled to a microprocessor 34. The IrDA standard has been widelyaccepted throughout the wireless industry as a means of realizinglow-power, non-interfering, interoperable data links. As a result, manycommercially-available wireless devices include IrDA ports. It should beunderstood, however, that the bookmark beacon 12 could be implementedusing any known means for transmitting data to a wireless device, suchas a radio frequency transmitter. The power source 36 is preferably abattery, but could be any type of power source capable of supplyingsufficient power to the processor 34.

[0019] Operationally, the processor 34 is programmed to contain the datato be included in the bookmark data packet 24. The processor 34 may, forexample, be programmed through a small keyboard attached to the housingof the bookmark beacon 12, or through an external electrical interfacesuch as a serial port, or by any means of communicating data to thebookmark beacon 12. The processor then transmits the data packet 24through the IrDA port 32 for reception by any mobile device withinwireless communication range. This transmission may be a continuoustransmission, or may be configured to transmit at a periodic interval.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the bookmark beacon 12 may beimplemented using a standard personal computer (PC) configured with anIrDA port. The transmission of data through IrDA ports is commonlyunderstood by those skilled in the art, and is described in the“IrDA-Compatible Data Transmission Design Guide,” TELEFUNKENMicroelectronic GmbH, April 1996.

[0021]FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary embodiment40 of the bookmark beacon system 10 in which the bookmark beacon 12 isassociated with a physical location, such as a commercial establishment42. In this embodiment 40, the bookmark beacon 12 is preferably mountedon or near the commercial establishment 42. When a wireless device user46 approaches the establishment 42, his or her wireless device 12receives a bookmark data packet 24 from the bookmark beacon 12. Thebookmark data packet 24 may then be used by the wireless device user 46to retrieve information relating to the commercial establishment 42.

[0022] Step 1, identified in FIG. 3 by a number one (1) enclosed in acircle, illustrates the transmission of the bookmark data packet 24 fromthe bookmark beacon 12 to the wireless device 14. This transmission mayoccur automatically as the wireless device user 44 approaches or entersthe establishment 42. Alternatively, the user may select a function onhis or her wireless device 12 that instructs the device 12 to receivebookmark beacon signals. If the wireless device user 44 chooses tointeract with the system 40, then in step 2 the bookmark data packet 24is used to access a web server 46 that includes web pages 48 containinginformation relating to the commercial establishment 42. As discussedabove with respect to FIG. 1, the web server 46 and web pages 48 arepreferably accessed by the wireless device 14 through a wireless network16 that is linked to the Internet 18 by a proxy server 20. Once the webpages 48 are accessed by the proxy server 20, information relating tothe commercial establishment 42 is collected, and the information isdelivered to the wireless device 14 in step 3. The information deliveredfrom the web pages could include, for example, advertisements, sales, orany other information relating to the commercial establishment.

[0023] In other exemplary embodiments of the bookmark beacon system 10,the bookmark beacon 12 may be associated with, for example, a cashregister in a restaurant, a facsimile machine, a printer, a secure door,or even a tree. These exemplary embodiments are described below toillustrate the various configurations (and/or guest devices) well withinthe scope of the bookmark beacon system. It should be understood,however, that the bookmark beacon system is not limited to theseexemplary embodiments, but may be utilized in a wide variety ofapplications.

[0024] 1. Cash Register Example—At a restaurant, a mobile device userorders a meal (order A) and sits at table B. A waiter enters order Ainto a cash register with a web browser interface. The order and amountsowing are managed and maintained securely stored on a web page that isreserved for orders relating to table B. The wireless device user thencompletes his or her meal and initiates communication with a bookmarkbeacon, attached to table B, that provides the mobile device with abookmark data packet identifying the web page associated with table B.The mobile device then accesses the web page as described above. Uponreceiving the preferably secure web page, the user may, for example, beable to review his or her order, confirm the order and complete paymentfor such transaction. The bookmark data packet utilized in thisexemplary embodiment may comprise the following information:

www.domain.tld{ID}

[0025] Wherein:

[0026] www.domain.tld=resource address containing order information; and

[0027] ID=table identifier

[0028] 2. Facsimile Machine Example—A wireless device user approaches afacsimile machine that has an attached bookmark beacon. The user'swireless device then receives a bookmark data packet from the bookmarkbeacon attached to the facsimile machine that preferably includes aresource address containing the URL of a webpage associated with thefacsimile machine. The webpage may contain, for example, the facsimilenumber, owner, physical address and possibly the IP address of thefacsimile machine. Once the resource address has been obtained, thewireless device may, for example, send data wirelessly to the faxmachine using the facsimile number, or send data to the facsimilemachine over the network using the IP address. In an alternativeembodiment, the bookmark data packet may contain the resource addressenabling the wireless device to transmit data over the network directlyto the facsimile machine without first accessing a related web page.Advantageously, this example enables legacy facsimile machines (i.e.,facsimile machines that are not wireless enabled) to communicate withmobile devices.

[0029] 3. Printer Example—A wireless device user approaches a computerprinter that has an attached bookmark beacon. The user's wireless devicethen receives a bookmark data packet from the bookmark beacon thatpreferably includes the URL of a web page that provides the wirelessdevice with the necessary protocols to communicate with the printer. Thewebpage may include, for example, the owner, physical address and IPaddress of the printer as well as a printer driver for communicationwith the printer. Once the printer information has been obtained, thewireless device may, for example, transmit data to the printer over thenetwork using the IP address. In an alternative embodiment, the bookmarkdata packet may contain the printer information, enabling the wirelessdevice to communicate directly with the printer without first accessinga web page. Advantageously, this example enables legacy printers (i.e.,printers that are not wireless enabled) to communicate with mobiledevices such that a user may print out documents from the mobile devicewithout first having to forward the document to the wired network onwhich the printer is attached.

[0030] 4. Secure Door Example—A wireless device user approaches a doorhaving an attached security-featured bookmark beacon. The wirelessdevice user then initiates communication with the bookmark beacon, andthe bookmark beacon provides the mobile device with a bookmark datapacket identifying a web page. The bookmark data packet in thisexemplary embodiment may, for example, comprise the followinginformation:

www.domain.tld{ID:PS}

[0031] Wherein:

[0032] www.domain.tld=resource address containing order information

[0033] ID=door identifier

[0034] PS=password

[0035] The bookmark beacon password is preferably generated insynchronization with a server-based password. Once the mobile device hasaccessed the preferably secure web page, the mobile device submits asecure password to the server. If the password submitted by the mobiledevice and the password encoded in the bookmark data packet aresynchronized with the server-based password, then the door is unlocked.

[0036] 5. Tree Example—To illustrate the wide array of applications ofthe bookmark beacon system, the system may be applied to such a simpleitem as a tree. In this exemplary embodiment, a bookmark beacon isembedded on a tree. The bookmark beacon then transmits a resourceaddress pointing any mobile device to a web site describing the featuresand history of the tree and any other particular information about thetree's species to the user. In this example, the bookmark data packetmay, for example, comprise the following information:

www.domain.tld

[0037] Wherein

[0038] www.domain.tld=resource address containing tree information

[0039]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary method 50 forretrieving information on a wireless device relating to a guest devicehaving a bookmark beacon. The method begins at step 52 when a wirelessdevice comes within proximity of a bookmark beacon. In step 54 thebookmark beacon transmits a bookmark data packet that is received by thewireless device. Once the bookmark data packet is received, the wirelessdevice stores the bookmark data packet to enable a wireless device userto retrieve the information necessary to communicate with the guestdevice (step 56). If the wireless device user chooses to interact with(or receive information concerning) the guest device (step 58), then themobile device contacts a web site identified by the bookmark data packet(step 60). In step 62, the web site preferably determines the relevantinformation regarding the guest device such as protocols and driversthat the user requires, and then downloads that information to theuser's mobile device. The information downloaded to the wireless devicemay preferably be in a variety of forms such as simple text, graphicsand text, applets, forms, etc. Then, in step 64, the wireless device orwireless device user may act on the downloaded information as describedherein.

[0040]FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronicmessaging system 70 for wireless devices 14 that utilizes a bookmarkbeacon 12 associated with a network-enabled printer 72. The system 70includes a bookmark beacon 12 attached to, or in the vicinity of, aprinter 72 that is coupled to the Internet 18 or some other computernetwork. The printer 72 is configured to receive print jobs across theInternet 18, preferably using an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).Operationally, the system enables a wireless device user to forwarde-mail attachments that cannot be viewed on the wireless device 14 overthe Internet 18 to the network-enabled printer 72.

[0041] In step 1, identified in FIG. 5 by a number one (1) enclosed in acircle, a wireless device user receives an e-mail message from amessaging server 74 that includes attachments that the messaging server74 is unable to forward to the wireless device 14. This restriction may,for example, be due to storage limitations, formatting problems orlimited viewing capability on the mobile device 14. Once the wirelessdevice user receives the e-mail message with a notification that anattachment could not be forwarded, the system 70 then preferably givesthe user the option to print the attachment on a network-enabled printer72. If the user chooses to print the attachment, then the wirelessdevice 14 preferably (1) searches for a signal from a bookmark beacon12, and (2) if a signal is identified, then receives the addressing andcapability information for the printer 72 in the form of a bookmark datapacket (step 2). Then, in step 3, the wireless device 14 transmits aprint request along with the information contained in the bookmarkbeacon data packet to the message server 74. Once the print request andprinter data are received, the message server 74 then preferably passesthe information to an attachment processor and reformatting component 76(step 4). The attachment processor and reformatting component 76 thenpreferably extracts the attachment from the e-mail message and reformatsthe attachment for printing. The reformatting operation may beperformed, for example, using the PostScript printer formattinglanguage. Once reformatting is complete, the attachment processorestablishes communication with the printer 72 over the Internet 18, andtransmits the attachment to the printer using the IPP method supportedby the Internet network 18 (step 5). It should be understood, however,that other printer formats could be used and other printer protocolscould be employed.

[0042]FIG. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing an exemplary electronicbanking system that utilizes a bookmark beacon associated with apoint-of-sale (POS) device. The system includes a bookmark beacon 12attached to, or in the vicinity of, a POS device 84 that is coupled tothe Internet 18 or some other computer network. Operationally, thissystem may be used, for example, to authorize a credit or debittransaction for the purchase of some items.

[0043] Step 1, identified in FIG. 6 by a number one (1) enclosed in acircle, occurs when a wireless device user completes a sale of some formand is not paying cash. At the retail sale point there is a cashregister 82 and a point-of-sale (POS) device 84. The POS device 84 may,for example, include a debit machine, a credit machine or a combinationof both. In step 1, the POS device 84 preferably receives the amount ofthe sale and type of transaction from the cash register 82, and requiresthe wireless device user to enter a Personal Identification Number(PIN). Then, in step 2, the information received by the POS device 84 istransferred from the POS device 84 to the bookmark beacon 12, andtransmitted to the user's wireless device 14 in the form of a bookmarkbeacon data packet. In addition, the bookmark beacon data packetpreferably includes the Internet address of a Bank Server and Proxy 86associated with the POS device 84, which is configured to process thetransaction. Once the bookmark beacon data packet is received at thewireless device 14, the wireless device user preferably reviews theinformation and accepts or denies the transaction at step 3. If thewireless device user accepts the transaction, then in step 4, thetransaction request is delivered over wireless network 16 and Internet18 to the Bank Server and Proxy 86. The Bank Server and Proxy 86 then,in step 5, transfers the transaction information to the network location88 of a bank or a credit/debit clearing house that records the wirelessdevice user's account information and verifies the PIN validity. If thetransaction information is verified, then the bank or clearing house 88accepts the transaction by transmitting the necessary informationdirectly to the POS device 84 over the Internet 18 (step 6 a).

[0044] In an alternative embodiment, the bookmark beacon 12 includes abi-directional IrDA or RF interface utilized to avoid the need for aland-line link between the bank or clearing house 88 and every retailoutlet. In this embodiment, the verification information from the bankor clearing house 88 is transmitted back to the wireless device 14 inthe form of an encoded verification message as shown in step 6 b. Then,in step 7, the encoded message is transmitted by the wireless device 14to the bi-directional interface of the bookmark beacon 12. Theverification message is then transferred to the POS device 84 where thetransaction is completed.

[0045] The embodiments described herein are examples of structures,systems or methods having elements corresponding to the elements of theinvention recited in the claims. This written description may enablethose skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having alternativeelements that likewise correspond to the elements of the inventionrecited in the claims. The intended scope of the invention thus includesother structures, systems or methods that do not differ from the literallanguage of the claims, and further includes other structures, systemsor methods with insubstantial differences form the literal language ofthe claims.

I claim:
 1. A system for communicating with a wireless device,comprising: a computer network; a wireless network configured to enablethe wireless device to access the computer network; and a bookmarkbeacon that transmits a bookmark data packet to the wireless device,wherein the bookmark data packet includes a resource address thatenables the wireless device to retrieve information stored on thecomputer network.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a guestdevice associated with the bookmark beacon, wherein the informationstored on the computer network relates to the guest device.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the guest device is a physical location. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein the physical location is a commercialestablishment.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the resource addressenables the wireless device to communicate with the guest device overthe computer network.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the guest deviceis a printer.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the guest device is afacsimile machine.
 8. The system of claim 2, wherein the resourceaddress enables the wireless device to interact with a softwareapplication executing on the computer network that relates to the guestdevice.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the guest device is a securedoor.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the guest device is apoint-of-sale device.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the resourceaddress is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
 12. The system of claim 1,wherein the resource address is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). 13.The system of claim 1, further comprising: a proxy server that links thewireless network and the computer network.
 14. The system of claim 1,wherein the computer network is an Internet.
 15. The system of claim 1,wherein the computer network is an Intranet.
 16. The system of claim 1,further comprising: a server coupled to the computer network, whereinthe information retrieved by the wireless device is stored on the serverand the resource address enables the wireless device to access theserver over the computer network.
 17. The system of claim 16, whereinthe information is stored on the server in the form of a website and theresource address enables the wireless device to access the website overthe computer network.
 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the bookmarkbeacon comprises: a power source; a processor coupled to the powersource; and a data transmission means controlled by the processor thattransmits the bookmark data packet.
 19. The system of claim 18, whereinthe data transmission means is an infrared data communicator.
 20. Thesystem of claim 19, wherein the infrared data communicator comprises anInfrared Data Association (IrDA) port coupled to the processor.
 21. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein the power source is a battery.
 22. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the bookmark beacon comprises a personalcomputer configured with an IrDA port.
 23. A bookmark beacon,comprising: a power source; a processor coupled to the power source; anda data transmission means controlled by the processor that transmits abookmark data packet; wherein the bookmark data packet includes aresource address that enables a wireless device to retrieve informationstored on a computer network.
 24. The bookmark beacon of claim 23,wherein the data transmission means is an infrared data communicator.25. The bookmark beacon of claim 24, wherein the infrared datacommunicator comprises an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) port coupledto the processor.
 26. The bookmark beacon of claim 23, wherein the powersource is a battery.
 27. The bookmark beacon of claim 23, wherein thecomputer network is an Internet.
 28. The bookmark beacon of claim 23,wherein the resource address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address. 29.The bookmark beacon of claim 23, wherein the resource address is aUniform Resource Locator (URL).
 30. A system for communicating with awireless device, comprising: a guest device; a computer network; awireless network; a proxy server coupled between the computer networkand the wireless network that enables the wireless device to send andreceive data over the wireless network to or from the computer network;a server that stores data associated with the guest device and has alocation on the computer network; and a bookmark beacon that transmits abookmark data packet to the wireless device, wherein the bookmark datapacket includes a resource address that identifies the location of theserver on the computer network and enables the wireless device to sendor retrieve data associated with the guest device to or from the server.31. A method for transmitting information associated with a physicallocation to a wireless device, comprising the steps of: providing acomputer network; storing information associated with the physicallocation on the computer network; providing a wireless networkconfigured to enable the wireless device to access the computer network;providing a bookmark beacon associated with the physical location thattransmits a bookmark data packet, wherein the bookmark data packetincludes a resource address that identifies the location on the computernetwork where the information associated with the physical location isstored; receiving the bookmark data packet on the wireless device; andaccessing the computer network with the wireless device and retrievingthe information associated with the physical location.
 32. The method ofclaim 31, wherein the physical location is a commercial establishment.33. The method of claim 31, wherein the wireless device automaticallyreceives the bookmark data packet when the wireless device is withintransmission range of the bookmark beacon.
 34. A method for enabling apoint-of-sale device to communicate with a wireless device, comprisingthe steps of: providing a computer network; providing a networkconnection between the computer network and the point-of-sale device;entering information relating to a transaction into the point-of-saledevice; storing the information relating to the transaction at alocation on the computer network; providing a wireless networkconfigured to enable the wireless device to access the computer network;providing a bookmark beacon associated with the point-of-sale devicethat transmits a bookmark data packet, wherein the bookmark data packetincludes a resource address that identifies the location on the computernetwork where the information relating to the transaction is stored;receiving the bookmark data packet on the wireless device; and accessingthe computer network with the wireless device and retrieving theinformation relating to the transaction.
 35. The method of claim 34,comprising the further step of: transmitting credit or debit informationfrom the wireless device to the computer network.
 36. The method ofclaim 35, comprising the further step of: providing software executingon the computer network, wherein the software (1) receives the credit ordebit information from the wireless device (2) approves or denies thetransaction based on the credit or debit information, and (3) transmitsthe approval or denial to the point-of-sale device.
 37. The method ofclaim 36, wherein the information relating to the transaction isincluded in the bookmark data packet and is transmitted to the softwarealong with the credit or debit information.
 38. A method for enabling awireless device to communicate with a printer, comprising the steps of:providing a computer network; providing a network connection between thecomputer network and the printer, wherein the printer has a networkaddress that enables information to be transmitted to the printer overthe computer network; providing a wireless network configured to enablethe wireless device to access the computer network; providing a bookmarkbeacon associated with the printer that transmits a bookmark datapacket, wherein the bookmark data packet includes a resource addressthat identifies the network address of the printer; receiving thebookmark data packet on the wireless device; and transmitting data fromthe wireless device to the printer over the computer network using thenetwork address.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the resourceaddress also identifies a location on the computer network whereinformation regarding the printer is stored, and further comprising thestep of: retrieving the information regarding the printer from thecomputer network with the wireless device, wherein the informationenables the wireless device to format the data before transmission tothe printer over the computer network such that the data is transmittedin a format associated with the printer.
 40. The method of claim 38,wherein the resource address identifies a location on the computernetwork where information regarding the printer, including the networkaddress of the printer, is stored, and further comprising the step of:retrieving the information regarding the printer from the computernetwork with the wireless device, wherein the information (1) providesthe wireless device with the network address of the printer, and (2)enables the wireless device to format the data before transmission tothe printer over the computer network such that the data is transmittedin a format that can be printed by the printer.
 41. A method forenabling a wireless device to communicate with a facsimile machine,comprising the steps of: providing a bookmark beacon associated with thefacsimile machine that transmits a bookmark data packet, wherein thebookmark data packet includes a facsimile number for the facsimilemachine; receiving the bookmark data packet on the wireless device; andwirelessly transmitting data from the wireless device to the facsimilemachine using the facsimile number.
 42. A method for enabling a wirelessdevice to communicate with a facsimile machine, comprising the steps of:providing a computer network; providing a network connection between thecomputer network and the facsimile machine, wherein the facsimilemachine has a network address that enables information to be transmittedbetween the facsimile machine and the computer network; providing awireless network configured to enable the wireless device to access thecomputer network; providing a bookmark beacon associated with thefacsimile machine that transmits a bookmark data packet, wherein thebookmark data packet includes a location on the computer network whereinformation regarding the facsimile machine is stored; retrieving theinformation regarding the facsimile machine from the computer networkwith the mobile device, wherein the information includes the networkaddress of the facsimile machine; and transmitting data from thewireless device to the facsimile machine over the computer network usingthe network address of the facsimile machine.
 43. The method of claim42, wherein the information regarding the facsimile machine also enablesthe wireless device to format the data before transmission over thecomputer network such that the data is transmitted in a formatassociated with the facsimile machine.
 44. A method for opening a securedoor with a wireless device, comprising the steps of: providing acomputer network; providing a network connection between the secure doorand the computer network; providing password software operating at alocation on the computer network, wherein the password software isconfigured to (1) receive passwords over the computer network, and (2)transmit a door open signal to the secure door when a valid password isreceived; providing a wireless network configured to enable the wirelessdevice to access the computer network; providing a bookmark beaconassociated with the secure door that transmits a bookmark data packet,wherein the bookmark data packet includes the location on the computernetwork where the password software is operating; receiving the bookmarkdata packet on the wireless device; transmitting a door password fromthe wireless device over the computer network to the password software;determining whether the door password is valid using the passwordsoftware; and if the door password is valid, then (1) transmitting thedoor open signal from the password software to the secure door over thecomputer network, and (2) unlocking the secure door.
 45. The method ofclaim 44, wherein the password software is also configured to generate asecure door password and transmit the secure door password to the securedoor, and further comprising the steps of: generating the secure doorpassword with the password software; transmitting a copy of the securedoor password to the secure door; encrypting the copy of the secure doorpassword in the bookmark data packet; and comparing the copy of thesecure door password encryped in the bookmark data packet and the doorpassword transmitted from the wireless device with the secure doorpassword generated by the password software to determine whether thedoor password is valid.
 46. A method for retrieving information on awireless device, comprising the steps of: transmitting a bookmark datapacket from a bookmark beacon, wherein the bookmark data packet includesa network address for a location on a computer network; receiving thebookmark data packet on the wireless device; accessing the computernetwork with the wireless device over a wireless network, and contactingthe location on the computer network identified by the network address;and retrieving information that is stored at the location on thecomputer network identified by the network address.
 47. The method ofclaim 46, wherein the step of accessing the computer network isproceeding by the additional steps of: storing the bookmark data packeton the wireless device; and enabling a wireless device user to determinewhether or not interact with the computer network.
 48. The method ofclaim 46, wherein: the bookmark beacon is associated with a device orphysical location; and the information stored at the location on thecomputer network relates to the device or physical location.
 49. Themethod of claim 46, wherein the location on the computer network is anInternet website.
 50. An electronic messaging system, comprising: aplurality of wireless devices; a computer network; a wireless networkthat enables the plurality of wireless devices to access the computernetwork; one or more printers coupled to the computer network, whereineach printer has a unique printer address on the computer network; abookmark beacon associated with each printer that transmits a bookmarkdata packet identifying the unique printer address of the associatedprinter, wherein the bookmark data packet can be received by theplurality of wireless devices; and a message server having a uniquelocation on the computer network that transmits and receives electronicmessages to and from the plurality of wireless devices over the computernetwork and wireless network, and that is also configured to (a) receiveone of the unique printer addresses from one of the wireless devices,and (b) transmit an electronic message identified by the one wirelessdevice over the computer network to the printer associated with the oneunique printer address.
 51. The system of claim 50, further comprising:an attachment processor and reformator operating on the message serverthat (a) receives electronic messages from the message server thatinclude attachments which have been identified for printing by the onewireless device, (b) extracts the attachment from the electronicmessage, (c) formats the attachment for printing, and (d) transmits theattachment over the computer network to the printer associated with theone unique printer address.
 52. The system of claim 51, wherein themessage server (1) notifies a wireless device user when an electronicmessage is received that includes an attachment that is too long to betransmitted to one of the wireless devices, and (2) provides thewireless device user with an option to print the attachment using theattachment processor and reformator.
 53. A method for forwarding e-mailattachments to a network printer, comprising the steps of: providing amessage server on a computer network that has access to a wirelessnetwork; receiving an e-mail message on a wireless device from themessage server with an indication that the e-mail message includes anattachment that was not transmitted to the wireless device; receiving asignal on the wireless device from a bookmark beacon associated with thenetwork printer, wherein the signal includes a network address for thenetwork printer; transmitting a print request to the message server fromthe wireless device over the wireless network and computer network,wherein the print request includes the network address for the networkprinter; transmitting the attachment from the message server to thenetwork printer over the computer network; and printing the attachmenton the network printer.
 54. The method of claim 53, whereincommunications between the computer network and the wireless network aremade through a proxy server.
 55. The method of claim 53, wherein themessage server includes an attachment processor and reformatorconfigured to (a) receive electronic messages from the message serverthat include attachments which have been identified for printing by thewireless device, (b) extract the attachment from the electronic message,(c) format the attachment for printing, and (d) transmit the attachmentover the computer network to the network printer.
 56. An electronicbanking system, comprising: a plurality of wireless devices; a computernetwork; a wireless network that enables the plurality of wirelessdevices to access the computer network; one or more point-of-saledevices coupled to the computer network, wherein each point-of-saledevice has a unique address on the computer network, and is configuredto (1) receive data regarding a transaction, and (2) receive a credit ordebit card number and a personal identification number (PIN) from awireless device user; a bookmark beacon associated with eachpoint-of-sale device, wherein each bookmark beacon is configured totransmit a bookmark data packet including (1) the unique address of theassociated point-of-sale device, (2) any received transaction data, and(3) the credit or debit card number and PIN entered by the wirelessdevice user; a server having a unique location on the computer networkthat is configured to (a) receive the data packet from one of thewireless devices, (b) verify the PIN and credit or debit card number,(c) approve or deny the transaction, and (d) transmit the approval ordenial to one of the point-of-sale devices over the computer network.57. The electronic banking system of claim 56, wherein thecommunications between the wireless network and the computer networktake place through a proxy server.
 58. The electronic banking system ofclaim 56, wherein the server is located on the Internet.
 59. Theelectronic banking system of claim 56, further comprising: a networklocation affiliated with a financial institution or credit/debit cardclearing house, wherein the server transfers the data packet to thenetwork location and the network location (a) verifies the PIN andcredit or debit card number, (b) approves or denies the transaction, and(c) transmits the approval or denial to the point-of-sale device overthe computer network.
 60. The electronic banking system of claim 56,wherein: the point-of-sale devices are not coupled to the computernetwork; the bookmark beacon associated with each point-of-sale deviceis configured to both (1) transmit the bookmark data packet and (2)receive a verification data packet from one of the plurality of wirelessdevices; and the approval or denial is transmitted to the onepoint-of-sale device by (1) transmitting the approval or denial to theone wireless device over the computer network and wireless network, andthen (2) transmitting the approval or denial from the one wirelessdevice to the bookmark beacon.